Bicycles, Sport and etc…

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Monthly Archives: September 2017

California-based US bicycle company Masi Bikes has released new frames and forks, reinforced by TeXtreme® carbon fiber fabrics. By incorporating TeXtreme® into their designs, Masi was able to reduce the weight by 110 grams while improving stiffness.

“The goal wasn’t to just make the frame lighter, we also wanted to make it a bit smoother without giving up any drivetrain stiffness. By using TeXtreme®, we succeeded in making a frame that gives us what we want from it. Since TeXtreme® is so thin we could work with several plies to get the same thickness or less, resulting in significant improvements.” says Masi’s James Winchester.

TeXtreme® is the next-generation state-of-the-art carbon fiber material now being used throughout the bicycle industry. TeXtreme® technology it is based on using Spread Tows instead of traditional round tows to create ultra-light weight, high-performance products. Companies utilizing the TeXtreme® Technology achieve significant results in minimizing weight while increasing rigidity, strength, etc., in comparison to other carbon fiber materials.

TeXtreme® technology is able to maximize the benefits of thin ply principles where research studies have shown the maximum strength until breakage is more than twice as high when comparing with conventional carbon fiber fabrics.

In addition to the bicycle industry, TeXtreme® can be found in Formula 1, America’s Cup, NASCAR and Le Mans racing, golf clubs, surfboards, tennis racquets, table tennis blades, rowing shells, skis, snowboards and ice hockey sticks as well as various industrial and advanced aerospace applications.

As unique as the wood management program which gives rise to Glenmorangie whisky, the Glenmorangie Original bicycle is crafted from wood used in Glenmorangie Original whisky casks. In giving a new life to the material this partnership creates a supremely functional machine with a history; and a future, of creating enjoyment.

For the Glenmorangie Original bicycle, Renovo designers took inspiration from the shape of Glenmorangie whisky cask staves, with the downtube and top tube echoing the trapezoidal shape of the stave and the arcing curve of the cask. These shapes are integrated into a frame with the same smooth-riding hollow frame technology as all Renovos and “longbow” seatstays engineered to further tame rough roads.

Designing the bicycle, Renovo imagined a supremely versatile machine, one which could be the “one bike” for any road or path, distinctive and possessing a ride quality that rewards every minute spent in the saddle. The Launch Edition Glenmorangie Original is that bike, but those wishing for an even more rarified ride experience will be able to order their Original with a choice of upgraded component packages. No matter how the Glenmorangie Original is outfitted, its performance will exceed all expectation and the ride will astonish as much as the embodied legacy of craftsmanship.

Besides the same legendary ride as all Renovos, the Glenmorangie Original is a rolling testament to the versatility of wood. That versatility is evidenced by the ability of the the hardwood frame to exceed expectations on any sort of ride. A fast and responsive road machine when shod with the stock 700x28mm tires, it can transform into an incredibly smooth and stable adventure machine simply by swapping in larger tires- up to 40mm wide to tame the roughest of unpaved roads. The Launch Edition is built with a Shimano Ultegra shifting and braking systems, a full-carbon thru-axle fork, lightweight and aerodynamic Velocity wheels and a lightweight and comfortable FSA cockpit. A more rarefied ride is possible with The Prestige Edition, equipped with Shimano’s flagship Dura-Ace system offering electronic shifting and hydraulic braking, complimented by Rolf Prima carbon-fiber wheels and a carbon fiber FSA cockpit.

The Glenmorangie Original by Renovo represents an emerging style of bicycle that harkens to the past while speaking to the future of riding as well. This is not a specialized machine for a single discipline, but a bicycle built for riding whatever roads lie ahead. With relatively wide tires for a road bicycle, powerful disc brakes and 22-speed drivetrain the Glenmorangie bike is made to inspire riders to transcend their everyday experience with the special ride quality which can only come from carefully selected hardwoods.

In this case the primary hardwood used is American White Oak, which years ago took a trip across the Atlantic to be used as casks in Glenmorangie’s Scotland distillery, and has now returned to America for a new life. Renovo seasoned the staves to reduce residual moisture and then cut them into pieces to be laminated into planks that were subsequently joined and machined with the aid of their computer-controlled milling machine. Thus transformed, the frame components were assembled and hand-finished by Renovo’s skilled craftspeople.

Glenmorangie’s Dr. Bill Lumsden says “The Original is not our entry-level whisky. Rather, it’s the standard for all our whiskies.” In the same spirit as The Glenmorangie Original whisky, the Glenmorangie Original bicycle represents Renovo’s high standard of craftsmanship and rider experience. There are easier and quicker ways to make Bicycles or Whisky than the Glenmorangie and Renovo methods, but both companies alchemize a short list of ingredients using precision craft to produce extraordinary results; and now, an extraordinary bicycle.

The Glenmorangie Original by Renovo – by the numbers

Trapezoidal curved down tube and top tube recall the shape of Oak staves from Glenmorangie casks